Healing From Religion
← About the show

Tell your story on the show

This is a storytelling show about what comes after religious harm. If you're a few years down the line and can look back at the whole arc — what happened, and what happened next — I'd like to hear from you.

Before You Start

You don't have to be polished.

You don't need to be a writer or a speaker, and you don't need to have told this story before. Most guests won't have.

I'm not looking for a verdict on faith.

People land in a lot of different places — still religious, somewhere new, nowhere at all. I'm interested in where you landed, whatever that is.

You stay in control of your own story.

You can use a different name, tell me ahead of time what's off limits, stop the recording, or pull the episode any time before it publishes.

This isn't therapy, and I won't be your therapist.

I'm a licensed therapist, but being a guest doesn't make you a client — and I can't take on guests who are current or former therapy clients of mine.

First, the basics

City and time zone — we record remotely, so this is just for scheduling.

Denomination, movement, or the particular flavor of it.

How long since you left, or since you started deconstructing?

There's no wrong answer. I ask because this show is mostly about the part that comes after, and that takes a while to have words for.

What happened

The short version — what it was like inside, and what led to leaving or deconstructing. A few paragraphs is plenty. This is a first conversation, not the episode.

What happened next

This is the part I care most about, and the part most shows skip. What did recovery actually look like — how long, what helped, who helped? Therapy, people, books, communities, or something nobody would guess.

Which of these are actually part of your story?

Tick any that fit — we won't have time for all of them, and this helps me see the shape of the conversation ahead of time. Skip any that aren't yours.

What's still unresolved? (optional)

There usually is something. Naming it here is one of the more honest things you can put in this form, and it's often where the best part of the conversation ends up.

A few practical things
How would you want to be named on the episode?

You can change your mind later, right up until it publishes.

A podcast, a blog, a book, a thread. A link is great if you have one. Not a requirement — plenty of guests will be doing this for the first time.

Including anything you'd rather not be asked about on air. I'll respect it.

I read every one of these myself, and I'll write back either way.

If you're in crisis right now, please don't wait on this form. Call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the US, or go to your nearest emergency room. If you're looking for support rather than a microphone, the support group and a free consultation are better places to start.